Week 41 - ATP Masters 1000 - Shanghai, China (Hard) - AM

steven · Tennis legend

Week 41 - ATP Masters 1000 - Shanghai, China (Hard) - AM

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Realistically after having had back surgery one would expect an elite athlete to take at least a year to get back to approaching his best form if ever! We are blessed with a golden generation in Federer, Nadal, Novak and Andy in 2012/13 was a match for them all. That time period spans the absolute peak of his career so far and had it had taken more than a decade to get there, he had systematically optimised his fitness and to coin a golfing phrase, course management to deliver his belief that he would be an Olympic gold medalist, US open and Wimbledon champion.

Unfortunately injury brings lost opportunity and a drop down the rankings, which once you drop out of the top 8 is difficult to reverse, paradoxically for the top 3 having to play Andy in the quarters brings them an extra game where they know they cannot cruise and may well have to go the distance early in the last week of a major championship and still have to go again perhaps twice more, I think this impacted the US open this also potential gives the rivals Andy has to climb over big additional points if they get a good draw.

This weeks draw is brutal, and I can see andy falling away from getting to London purely as others have an opportunity for easy points in comparison, as a British tennis fan, hopefully I will be wrong but it is important to manage the expectations of others?

paulisi · Tennis legend

Andy scrapped through. Janowicz next.

indiana · Tennis legend

I guess in seeding terms, to be scheduled to have in theory to play seeds 5, 1, 3 and 2 in that order is as bad as it could theoretically get. I'd pass on the lottery this week, Andy !

I suppose Ferrer is in dubious form ( though well rested ! ) and err Djokovic isn't ( and apparently much fitter than Nadal ).

indiana · Tennis legend

Oakland2002 wrote:
This weeks draw is brutal, and I can see andy falling away from getting to London purely as others have an opportunity for easy points in comparison, as a British tennis fan, hopefully I will be wrong but it is important to manage the expectations of others?

You're too kind smile

Yes, from SFs day ( in Beijing and Tokyo last week ) and this week's draw an improving looking picture has gone distinctly into reverse.

steven · Tennis legend

L56: (11) Andy Murray WR 11 beat (Q) Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) WR 55 (CH 52 in Apr) by 1 & 5

L32: (11) Andy Murray WR 11 v Jerzy Janowicz (POL) WR 37 (CH 14 in 2013)

H2H 3-1, including last week's 6-7(9) 6-4 6-2 win in Beijing

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I was watching the match on livestream but had to leave it at 1pm - the score at 5-5 in the second set. The first set Andy dominated, as seen by the scoreline of 6-1, but in the second set Gabashvili started to bash inside the lines instead of (sometimes yards) outside them, which made for some very interesting rallies. When I left I really didn't know whether Andy could finish it in 2, but he did (I watched the final games when I got back).

He was, unfortunately, in an irritable mood, moaning about the opponent's grunt - which was admittedly very loud - and the spidercam (again). It's a pity he doesn't seem able to rise above such distractions like most other players do. It always affects his play.

Janowicz next. I know Andy has just beaten him in Schenzhen, but he still worries me - another one who, if he is on a hot streak, can blow Andy off the court for a while. Hopefully not for long enough!

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

One set to the good 7-5

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Slightly shaky 1st service game in the 2nd - thought he was heading for one of his dips but comes through 1-0

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

And breaks 3-1. Please let it be straightforward from here......

steven · Tennis legend

L32: (11) Andy Murray WR 11 beat Jerzy Janowicz (POL) WR 37 (CH 14 in 2013) by 5 & 2

L16: (11) Andy Murray WR 11 v (5) David Ferrer (ESP) WR 5 (CH 3 in 2013)

H2H 7-5 but 6-1 on hard courts, including a 5 & 4 win in the 2011 final here.

-- Edited by steven on Wednesday 8th of October 2014 09:43:33 AM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Shame Jerzy was injured at the end, but glad Andy got the W.

RJA · Hall of fame

Nice solid win. Really should beat Ferrer tomorrow the way both of them are playing at the moment.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

RJA wrote:
Nice solid win. Really should beat Ferrer tomorrow the way both of them are playing at the moment.

He'd better - or Ferrer could re-pass him in the race!

I couldn't watch most of the match, just the last few games. I'll fit "catch-up" in during the rest of the day, but unfortunately Wednesday is a busy day for me so I'll have to watch it in little bits at a time.

RJA · Hall of fame

So today has seen defeats for Nadal, Wawrinka, Nishikori, Raonic and Dimitrov.

I wonder if 5 top 10 players have ever all lost on the same day before.